Chapter Two

2 hours.

2 hours was all I needed to put enough distance between me and the pack. I would have probably used less than that, but I spent about thirty seven minutes trying to confuse my scent so the pack couldn't find me.

At the rate of what I did, only my mate could find me if they wanted. And luckily for me, I had none of that. So no one would find me.

Bruises and scraps covered the parts of my body that was exposed, branches of trees piercing me at every chance they got. The moon's light was a little dull making seeing at least a few feet in front of me difficult, even the moon goddess wasn't happy with my decision to run away.

Well big whoops to all of them. Therapy wasn't helping anything, my wolf wasn't still answering my calls, I mean I couldn't even turn into a wolf and I've tried plenty of times. Nothing was working. All that therapist did was make me revisit that day, made me see reason about how everything wasn't my fault. She wasn't actively finding any solution to my issue, I mean every little thing brings the memory to the surface now and that type of thing wasn't something I wanted to think about while scrolling through tiktok and sipping my protein shake, it wasn't what anyone wanted to think about. At all.

Therapist could suck my ass though. Therapy was shitty. Revenge was the best option.

*******

Last day of the year 2018 and the alpha of the Nightshade pack was throwing a party that would be talked about for decades. After all, he achieved all his goals for the years, had a wonderful wife and his children were as happy as ever. Heck, his daughter even found her mate last year and their relationship was growing well. His son was learning all the ropes about being an alpha as well, he had provided all the solution they needed to solve their pesky vampire issues.

He moved around, arranging and scattering everything. He needed everything to be perfect. He needed everyone to love this.

He saw his daughter with her mate at one of the entrance of the party, they shared a kiss and went back to whatever they were discussing, her head placed on his shoulder. He remembered how she confided in him about the mating ceremony and how nervous she was about doing it, her mate was interested and he was kinda pressuring her.

He moved towards them. Something wasn't right, he felt it in his bones but he couldn't just figure out what it was.

His daughter was the first to spot him. She waved at him with a smile plastered onto her lips, her face was unusually rosy or was it the lights. He couldn't figure it out.

"Hey Dad" She hugged him. She looked around "I think your party is going to be totally awesome, I mean I planned the entire celebration"

He laughed, a hearty laugh that came from his chest and filled his body with warmth. He loved his little one something fierce.

"I see you becoming an event planner sometime in the future" He nodded "You know how to make dreams come true, it's your talent"

He turned to his daughter's mate. The son of a beta from a neighboring pack who they once had a feud with. He wasn't anything special, lanky, wore glasses and the demeanor of a sour lemon. He remembered a time when he thought and everyone else in their family thought that his own beta, Beta Daniel would be the one to produce the offspring that would mate with his daughter. At least, Lucas was better than this pressuring tout.

"Good evening Alpha Julius" The mate had greeted him, an awkward smile on his face. He moved his hand for an handshake but the alpha didn't respond to that.

"Aahhhh I have forgotten your name again but no need to remind me, I'm sure I'll remember it at some point" He placed an hand on his shoulder "Perhaps we can have a conversation sometime"

The mate nodded, he removed his hand from the daughter's shoulder as quickly as possible and was about to follow the alpha.

"Dad, could you guys have the conversation later? " She asked her father, her tone a little bit cold "Nathan and I were having a serious conversation before you came and I would like to continue it now"

She was mad at him. He realized later when he was sharing the discussion with his wife during the party. Probably because he did not deem it necessary to learn her mate's name and probably the way he was assessing him.

There it was. That feeling again. A dark hollow feeling at the pit of his stomach.

Something bad was happening somewhere, he just wasn't sure where.

"Sweetie, where did ...."

He wasn't able to complete the question though. The metallic smell of blood assaulted his nose mixed with the fragrance of his daughter. She was close, very close. His wife smelled it too, she gave him a quizzical look that asked a million questions at once. Their daughter.

They didn't need to start chasing for her.

She appeared from the woods in wolf form few seconds later, her white fur drenched in blood and a gaping wound in her throat. She landed on the ground with a thud and collapsed.

Someone ran forward with her, his own hands covered with blood but in human form. Her mate, Nathan.

"They're coming Alpha Julius"

He wasn't able to ask any question before Nathan continued.

"The Lycans are coming"

******

Dad never liked the city, he said it was too rough and filled with questionable characters but I always thought it was because the place was filled with other supernaturals. People he couldn't question with just a look and they would just start talking.

He only came here when needed and if I remembered correctly, he met mom in a big city. And he still didn't like it.

I kept my bag closer to me and brought out the burner phone , checking the location of the person that I was supposed to meet. I needed to confirm I was in the right location and not just moving around in circles.

Oh fuck it, I'll just call. He or she picked on the first try.

"Hello, it's me Avery" I nodded at a woman crossing the street and she waved at me. "Where are you? I think I'm close to the location yo...."

"I can see you now, don't worry sweetheart"

What the fuck. What did he mean by see me, he didn't even know what I looked like.

I switched the phone to my right side "I don't know what you mean by 'you can see me'"

My ears twitched, picking up a sound a few feet away from me. And it was coming unusually fast. I placed my phone in my pocket and moved to the right as soon as the thing passed me. Blurry shape moved towards me very fast, his sharp nails aiming for my head, I ducked down and swept my legs under his leg trying to throw him off balance. Didn't work.

He sliced the nails towards my right this time making me jump upwards. Another jab at the left, I feigned the right and punched him right across the jaw.

He flew. And fell on the ground with a thud. Who the heck was this no good loser and what did he want?

Armed with my bottle of pepper spray ready to spray his eyes, I ran towards him. My ears twitched, signaling that someone was coming. It was too late for me to jump out of the way though. Whatever it was threw me out of the way and onto the floor like I weighed nothing.

My head banged like something was trying to get out and I almost threw up. Scratched that, I threw up. I think my vision was fogged up because I saw something big and humanoid wearing some kind of hoodie that covered his form fighting the guy that attacked me and he was winning.

Oh how I wish my wolf was still around. She would have loved to see this, she loved stuff like this. Not the flinging like yesterday's trash but someone beating our bully with little effort.

The humanoid creature held the guy's head and twisted it, severing his spine with one solid move. That was the end of the fight, if it was even possible to call that a fight. He dropped the recently deceased on the ground and turned towards me.

"You shouldn't be making deals with random weirdos on the internet" He said to me without turning. His voice was low and deep, almost husky "Especially vampires who have something against your pack"

So that dude was the one I was talking to. And he wanted to kill me.

I crossed my arms "Lesson learnt, believe me but I did not know he was a vampire"

"Aren't you a werewolf, can't you smell the undead blood in that one?"

My arms dropped and I bit my lips, trying to get the metallic taste of blood away. Once upon a time, I could smell the undead blood. I could use my sense of smell to distinguish a fae from a wizard, just like dad taught me and my brother. Now, I had to rely on other senses which weren't even reliable.

The creature drew closer "Can't you smell me, don't you know who and what I am?"

"You're something that saved me from that vampire guy and now want me to be able to identify him" I scoffed. "And you don't want to leave me alone" I added the last one in my mind.

He dropped the thing obstructing his face from his body and head, showing me exactly what type of monster he was. Lycans.

"Well little Luna" He started. Kneeing beside me, he placed a hand on my chin. His eyes fixed on mine like a cat playing with his food "Little mate"